Ryan Naderi, Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski got the goals for Danny Röhl’s men in the final home match before the league split.
There were four changes to the team which defeated Aberdeen at Ibrox prior to the international break as Dujon Sterling, John Souttar, Jayden Meghoma and Andreas Skov Olsen came into the starting line-up.
Tuur Rommens was out of the matchday squad with a muscle injury, while James Tavernier, Emmanuel Fernandez and Youssef Chermiti were on the bench.
Rangers started with Jack Butland in goal behind a back four of Dujon Sterling, John Souttar, who wore the captain’s armband this afternoon, Nasser Djiga and Jayden Meghoma.
Nico Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani were once again in midfield, with Thelo Aasgaard taking up a more advanced role. In the wide areas, Andreas Skov Olsen and Mikey Moore were providing support to Ryan Naderi.
The striker had a good chance in the opening five minutes, as Skov Olsen and Moore combined down the right, with the latter whipping a good delivery into the box. Naderi was able to get a strong connection to send a header towards goal, but it was just wide.
At the other end, an opportunity opened up for Neil Farrugia as he drove into the Rangers box, but Butland gathered the ball at his near post.
It was Rangers who got the breakthrough with half an hour played at Ibrox. A corner was cleared by Dundee United before Thelo Aasgaard recovered the ball outside the box. He skipped beyond a defender before getting a superb shot away, which was palmed clear by goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Thankfully for Rangers, Ryan Naderi was on hand to tap home the rebound for his first league goal for the club.
There was another big chance for Röhl’s men as Naderi looked to square the ball to Aasgaard, with goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer off of his line, but a United defender got a foot in before it could reach the Rangers man.
The second goal did come shortly after, and it was another nice move from Rangers. Thelo Aasgaard took a throw-in on the left, which Naderi held up before returning to Aasgaard. He sent another good ball into the box, with Andreas Skov Olsen heading towards goal before Dujon Sterling got the final crucial touch to double Rangers’ advantage.
However, the two-goal lead only lasted five minutes as United had one back just before the break. Emmanuel Agyei drove through the heart of midfield, before finding Amar Fatah on his left. He took a touch onto his right-foot before sending a low finish beyond Jack Butland.
It prompted a double change for Rangers at the break as Djeidi Gassama and Youssef Chermiti came on to replace Andreas Skov Olsen and Ryan Naderi.
Chermiti almost found the target in the opening stages of the second-half. Djeidi Gassama picked the ball-up inside the Rangers half and raced forward before slotting it into the path of Chermiti. The striker’s right-footed shot was blocked well by Maynard-Brewer, before the danger was cleared.
Rangers were really pushing for a third goal, as Mikey Moore was denied by the goalkeeper too.
With 52 minutes played, Gers got their rewards for a strong start to the half as they restored the two-goal advantage. Tochi Chukwuani kept the ball alive in the box, before finding Gassama. The winger sent the ball across the box, with Aasgaard showing composure to send a low finish beyond Maynard-Brewer.
Dundee United were forced into a change of goalkeeper with just over 30 minutes remaining at Ibrox as Maynard-Brewar had to be replaced by David Richards.
Rangers had a glorious chance of a fourth as they broke up the pitch with Gassama, Chermiti and Moore at pace. Gassama squared it to Chermiti who was in space, but Richards held the strike from the number nine.
With 20 minutes remaining, the deficit was back to one as Dundee United got a second. Amar Fatah was again involved as he played the ball out to the right to Luca Stephenson who cut it back to Sapsford in the box and he sent it beyond Butland.
Dundee United took belief from their second and hit the post shortly after as Iurie Iovu hit the post with a header.
There was a sigh of relief around Ibrox as substitute Bojan Miovski got a fourth with five minutes remaining. Youssef Chermiti squared the ball to his strike partner and Miovski finished from just outside the box.
RANGERS: Butland, Sterling (Tavernier, 87), Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma, Raskin, Chukwuani (Barron, 82), Skov Olsen (Gassama, 46), Moore, Aasgaard (Miovski, 73), Naderi (Chermiti, 46)
Subs: Kelly, Fernandez, Diomande, Antman.
Dundee United: Maynard-Brewer (Richards, 58), Iovu, Sevelj, Graham, Ferry, Agyei (Camara, 63), Fatah, Farrugia (Sapsford, 63), Stephenson, Keresztes, Watters (Doleck, 82).
Subs: Strain, Esselink, Sibbald, Nammo, Cleall-Harding.